A Mahone Bay couple is leading a campaign by a local conservation group to buy a $900,000 island in order to keep it out of developers’ hands.
By Jonathan Riley <jriley@dal.ca>
Posted: Nov. 8, 2004
If Nicole Ernst gets some time away from organizing, she'd like to finish this painting for sale at the auction. Photo: Jonathan Riley
Michael and Nicole Ernst live in a small blue bungalow on the shore of Hirtle Cove near Mahone Bay on Nova Scotia's south shore. Michael's family was among the original settlers of the area in 1754. He was born here and grew up here.
Today he runs a sailing business out of Mahone Bay. He and his boat can be hired for lessons or a cruise among Mahone Bay's 365 islands.
"It's one of the finest sailing areas in eastern North America," says Ernst. "For anybody sailing, it's got predictable winds, little fog, interesting voyages, lots of islands and wonderful places to land."
In 2002, the Ernsts began to worry about the pace of development and change around the shores and islands of the bay.
That summer a developer bought and razed Strum Island, eight hectares of prime real estate at the mouth of Mahone Bay harbour. It is the first thing you see when you look out the bay from downtown Mahone Bay. The developer cut down most of the trees, and built a rock wall around the shore to try and stop erosion.
Nearby Andrews Island is also on the market. The Ernsts are spearheading a campaign to raise enough to buy it and preserve it in its natural state.
Mahone Bay Mayor Joe Feeney says the islands are important to a sense of community in the Mahone Bay area. Map courtesy of MICA
In March 2003, Michael Ernst organized the first public meeting of the Mahone Islands Conservation Association. He expected maybe 50 people to show up and was surprised when 200 people packed the Anglican parish hall.
Mahone Bay Mayor Joe Feeney says the islands are important to a sense of community in the Mahone Bay area.
"I have sailed on the bay for 25 years," he says. "You do the hot dog and hamburger on the barbeque thing, the kids play on the beach. People are gravely concerned that this may not be available to them the more the islands get bought up by owners who want to restrict everyone else's access."
The group's main focus is to establish a conservation area in the bay. Ernst says this would preserve both the natural environment and appearance of the bay and it would allow the community to continue to use the islands for recreation.
The group has identified four islands at the mouth of Mahone Bay harbour it believes could be designated a conservation area:
Although it didn’t have any money, the Mahone Bay Island Conservation Association decided last summer to make an offer on Andrews Island.
"The people who developed Strum Island were after Andrews Island," says Ernst. "If we don’t make an effort, we may never have a second chance."
"That’s a huge change in this community where everyone has always had access to what everyone else had.” -- Nicole Ernst. Photo: Jonathan Riley
The Ernsts were able to negotiate a price “considerably less” than the $900,000 asking price.
“Part of the agreement was that we had to keep the name Andrews Island,” says Ernst.
And for their part, the Andrews are happy to have the conservation group buy the island.
“I think it will be better looked after,” says Myrtle Andrews, wife of one of the owners. “If a private person buys it, you know what happens. They build on it and that’s it and they don’t allow you to use it.”
The association has until April 30 to raise the money. A pledge campaign begins this week with letters going out to group members, supporters and sponsors. The association is talking with corporations and government for support.
“We have a commitment from the municipal government for $18,400,” says Michael Ernst. “The provincial government hasn’t committed yet but we know they will. We just don’t know what.”
On Nov. 20, the group will host their second annual dinner and art auction fundraiser at the Oak Island Inn and Spa. Last year’s event raised more than $16,000 for the island acquisition fund.
Today the group’s membership is more than double what it was in 2003.
“Here we have 430 people who are concerned enough about what is happening in this area that they have put $10 down on the table,” says Ernst referring to the group’s annual membership fee.
Nicole Ernst is not surprised by the support.
“The environment is not being respected,” she says. “They’re not treading lightly with their developments. They’re going in and obliterating areas and that is upsetting to people. You go down the road here and you’ll see no trespassing signs -- that’s a huge change in this community where everyone has always had access to what everyone else had.”